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Do snakes hibernate in winter12/15/2023 ![]() People mistakenly kill snakes when in fact they pose no threat. Without the help of these reptiles, we would be overrun with rodents and insects.ĭid you know it is against the law to kill a snake? According to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Wildlife Code, all native snakes, including venomous snakes, are protected by law and are illegal to kill unless they "pose reasonable threat or endangerment to persons or property" on your private property. These venomous snakes are not the villains people think they are. While most snakes you may encounter are not poisonous, a few venomous snakes can be found in Arkansas, including rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths/water moccasins, and the occasional Texas coral snakes. Snakes will begin to come out when the temperature outside has reached 60 degrees. They will be less active and will not be too eager to eat. A snake will not sleep during the brumation, but the temperature of their body will get lower and their metabolism will slow down considerably. In areas where the winter is not as cold, the snake will go into what is called brumation. What happens to snakes during the winter? Do they hibernate? Hibernation is a deep sleep that takes place in snow-covered and colder climates. Keepers of brumating species should always be aware of the signs and know how to properly facilitate this process in captivity.It is April and finally, the weather is getting warmer! Along with the warmer weather, though, comes the "awakening" of snakes! Adult bearded dragons and many species of tortoise, for example, often brumate in captivity. While it’s possible some captive snake species may attempt brumation, it’s far less common in captive snakes than it is in other commonly kept reptile species. Keepers can facilitate brumation by lowering the temperature in the snake’s enclosure, but this should always be done with caution and knowledge of proper brumation care requirements. Brumation in captivityĭespite captive individuals experiencing a mostly consistent environment, their biological functions can often kick in telling them to begin brumation despite not seeing a drop in temperature. Commonly kept species like garter snakes ( Thamnophis), and corn snakes ( Pantherophis guttatus) are known to brumate both in the wild and occasionally in captivity too. Lizard species like the central bearded dragon ( Pogona vitticeps) will often bury themselves in wet soil to reduce the distance needed to travel for water.Īll North American snake species brumate due to the region’s colder climate. While hibernating mammals will stay in this slumber for the entirety of the hibernation process, brumating reptiles and amphibians will sometimes slink off for a drink of water during their comparatively lighter nap.īrumating species are also able to tolerate significantly lower oxygen levels than hibernating mammals. ![]() While brumation could be considered the ectotherm’s hibernation, the processes do differ slightly based on the biology of the different groups.īefore going into hibernation, mammals will build hefty fat reserves which their body uses slowly throughout the season to sustain their deep sleep. This means they’re able to allow their body temperature to drop dramatically during brumation, with some species of alligator choosing to spend part of their winter submerged in frozen water. ![]() Reptiles and amphibians are poikilothermic, meaning they can withstand drastic changes in body temperature without suffering negative impacts on their organ function. ![]()
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